News

Tuesday January 23, 2018

Curran Place

The University of Dayton announced today that the 1700 South Patterson Building, which once housed the NCR Corp. world headquarters, will be renamed Daniel J. Curran Place, in honor of the past UD president who presided over one of the most consequential eras of growth in the University's history.

Through the vision and leadership of Curran, who stepped down as president in 2016 after serving 14 years, investments and initiatives doubled the physical footprint of the Catholic, Marianist university and strategically positioned it as a leader in higher education nationally and globally.

"By almost every measure, the University grew through Dan's leadership — academics, endowment, research, enrollment, student success and contributions to regional economic growth," said David Yeager, chair of the University's board of trustees. "It's amazing to see his vision realized and form the foundation for UD's continuing growth."

During Curran's tenure, the University's purchase of 164 acres of land from NCR in 2005 and 2009 nearly doubled the University's footprint and turned it into the hottest economic development area in the region, attracting the $51 million GE Aviation EPISCenter and the $35 million Emerson Helix Innovation Center. Those facilities created high-value jobs for the region and exceptional opportunities for academic and research collaborations for UD's faculty, staff and students.

"At a time when the Dayton area was reeling from the profound effects of the economic recession, the University's investments in former NCR Corp. property created economic opportunity and hope for the city, significantly expanded and improved academic facilities, and positioned the University for its extraordinary growth in sponsored research," said President Eric F. Spina.

The acquisition also included buildings with a total of roughly 1 million square feet of space. With extensive renovation, Fitz Hall — named after former president Brother Raymond Fitz, S.M. — became home to the School of Education and Health Sciences; academic departments with coursework in art, design, theater, dance, performance technology, music, electro-optics and photonics; the Hanley Sustainability Institute; the innovative Dayton Early College Academy; facilities management and public safety. It also houses the archives and artwork of the Marian Library's world-class collection.

The University of Dayton Research Institute found room to grow in the former NCR World Headquarters — soon to be named Curran Place — paving the way for new records in sponsored research and increased National Science Foundation rankings that place UD in the upper echelon of all U.S. colleges and universities in many categories.

Curran said he was deeply honored by the trustees' decision and was particularly pleased with the selection of the building.

"So much of what goes on in that building is emblematic of the University's innovative and entrepreneurial spirit," Curran said. "We have a world-class research institute, and it's now in a world-class facility. The move allowed for the terrific growth we've experienced in research."

But Curran said the significance goes far beyond that. It goes to the heart and identity of the Dayton community, whose leaders gave UD a standing ovation when the purchase of the former NCR headquarters was announced.

"I was actually shocked at the impact our announcement had on the Greater Dayton community; it gave the community a sense of hope and faith about what would happen in the future. It signaled that UD was totally in the game, that we really stepped up to do something bold for the community. I'm proud of that and proud to have been part of a great team that achieved so much for the University and the region."

A sociologist by training, Curran currently serves as University president emeritus and is executive in residence for Asian affairs for the University of Dayton China Institute in Suzhou, China. He also continues to teach.

The University will formally dedicate the building as Daniel J. Curran Place in the spring. For more on Curran's legacy, visit his website.

For more information, contact Cilla Shindell, executive director of news and communications, at 937-229-3257 or shindell@udayton.edu.

A national outlet covering politics turned to a University of Dayton political scientist for expertise and local media highlighted a University vice president's inclusion as one of the "Top 10 African American Men" in the Dayton community.